Donald Lee Beebe, retired state trooper
Donald Lee Beebe, 77, of Roxana, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife and children Friday, March 14, 2014. He is deeply missed by all who knew him.
Donald was born in Bridgeville July 29, 1936, the son of George Edward Beebe and Mildred Amanda (Trice) Beebe. The family moved to Milford when Donald was a small child, and he attended Milford public schools, graduating in 1954.
He met his future wife, Shirley M. Lake, on a blind date. Recognizing a good thing when he saw her, Donald married Shirley at Marshallton Methodist Church May 23, 1958, and they set up housekeeping in Smyrna, moving to Clayton in 1961.
Donald was a proud veteran of the Delaware State Police, retiring in 1978 as captain/troop commander of Troop 3 in Camden. In 1974, Donald relocated his family to Sussex County in support of his wife, who had been named director of Camp Barnes, a camp for deserving children operated by the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police. Donald and Shirley spend 15 rewarding years at Camp Barnes making many new friends, and touching the lives of both staff and campers in many positive ways.
After his retirement from the Delaware State Police, Donald was employed as a bailiff by the Court of Common Pleas in Georgetown, from 1979-99. Donald and Shirley had purchased a farm in Roxana in 1975 where they moved in 1987.
Donald was a proud father and grandfather, supporting his children and grandchildren in every way, enthusiastically attending every sporting event, academic accomplishment, and civic recognition in which they participated.
A great sense of humor, an unmatched work ethic, and his constant and unfailing love of his family made Donald a role model to not just his wife, children, and grandchildren, but to all who knew him.
Donald is survived by his wife of 55 years, Shirley; his son, David R. Beebe, David's wife Julie and their children Daniel and Keith; his daughter, Carolyn B. Buchler, Carol's husband Brett, and their children, Baptiste, Abigail, Jacob, Caleb and Sarah.
Funeral services with State Police Honors will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 20, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Clarksville Chapel, 34874 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View, where friends may call beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow funeral services at Roxana Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Delaware State Police Museum, 1425 North DuPont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901, or Roxana Volunteer Fire Company, 35943 Zion Church Road, Frankford, DE 19945.
